The Martial Unity

Kane nodded, activating a breathing technique. His Martial Heart bloomed into full blaze, empowering his entire body.

"Woah…" Kane murmured as he glanced at his entire body with amazement. "This is incredible!"

Rui smiled at his excited reaction. "Ah, just some heads up, there's some things that you should know."

Rui proceeded to tell him everything that Senior Sarak told him when he first broke through to the Senior Realm. These were important cautions and warnings that every Martial Senior needed to know.

"Wait, I die faster when I use the Martial Heart?" Kane gaped.

"Yep," Rui nodded. "Theoretically if you used the Martial Heart all the time, you'd live a fraction of what you would otherwise live; which is to say a normal human lifespan. But pretty much no Martial Senior needs to."

"No one told me this!" Kane complained.

"If you don't like it, don't use it," Rui shrugged. "Martial Squires live a long time, not to mention there are longevity potions that you could get your hands on. If this were disclosed to Martial Squires, far fewer Martial Squires would break through to the Senior Realm, which is why the upper echelons of Martial Art do not disclose this information. The Panamic Martial Federation gets really pissed, apparently. Remember that."

Kane heaved a sigh. "Fair enough. It isn't that big a deal, even if it is a bummer. By the way, any clued about what it takes to get to the Master Realm?"

Rui considered the question for a moment. He recalled what Master Reina had told him about the disclosure of the Master Realm, there weren't any strict norms, and each Martial Master was to use their judgment for whether a Martial Senior was ready.

Rui had no idea on whether Kane was 'ready' or not. Maybe they judged it based on how close to their limits Martial Seniors were without relying on the Martial Senior.

neglect their Martial Body and Heart, resulting

He wasn't entirely sure.

you, but I don't know if it's the right thing to do," Rui informed him. "If you still want me to, then I don't mind telling you right here and now. I'll leave the choice to you. But the Martial Union will undoubtedly

a highly vested interest in seeing one of its native prodigies and youngest Martial Seniors reach the Upper Realms, so they would almost certainly tell him if

probably fixate on that too much. I'd rather acclimatize

busy," Rui heaved a sigh. "Several important matters

Kane was unperturbed. "I'll just commission someone from

"You're

"Why not…?" Kane frowned.

factor is too high. If people tie your breakthrough to me, I'm screwed. I took a risk just telling you and helping you break through, but returning a Martial Senior while you left a Martial Squire just some time prior? With

definitely pick up on Squire Kane returning as Senior Kane. Given how prolific

would be hounded by everybody and their

realized the gravity of

activated his Martial Heart

Rui pushed a little notebook and a map to Kane. "This is

Laniakea Caves?" Kane frowned, reading

Domain. It was part of the information I got from Bradt before we left," Rui informed him. "There is a pocket town in that part of the Beast Domain, protected

the notebook

Gotcha."

Rui smiled,